Genetic Healthcare for Cancer
Cancer genetic counseling and testing informs your healthcare choices. It also determines if you are a good candidate for our High Risk Cancer Screening Clinic.
What Our Counselors Do
A cancer genetic counselor at Precision Health, which is our genetic healthcare department, does the following things for you:
- Aids in selecting the correct genetic test for you.
- Reviews and explains the results of your testing.
- Helps you develop a plan for screening to improve your chances for early detection.
- Works with you and your provider to decrease the risk for certain types of hereditary cancer.
- Works with you and your provider to help guide treatment options for those already diagnosed with certain types of cancer.
- Discusses and/or coordinates genetic testing for your family members when hereditary risk factors are present.
Benefits of Genetic Counseling & Testing
Cancer genetic counseling and testing can benefit people with a personal or family history of:
- Certain types of cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger
- Triple negative, bilateral or metastatic breast cancer
- Multiple primary tumors
- Rare cancer, especially ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and male breast cancer
- At least two close relatives with breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colon, or prostate cancers
In some cases, genetic counseling can be helpful for people who have been diagnosed with:
- Multiple polyps in the colon (usually ≥ 9), even if the polyps were not cancerous
- Multiple benign tumors
- Other features seen with hereditary cancers
